Campaign finance bill stalls in Senate

A controversial campaign finance bill has stalled out at the Capitol. The bill would double current campaign contribution limits for legislative and statewide candidates and double – to $300,000 – the amount of special interest money the legislature’s own campaign committees could collect – but there weren’t enough votes in the state Senate. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said the legislation would need “major changes” before he’d be willing to consider it.

“I think Scott Fitzgerald counted votes and realized that there was some opposition,” said Jay Heck with Common Cause in Wisconsin. Heck said a headcount revealed only 13 votes for the measure in the 33 member Senate.

“We’ll still have very healthy campaign contribution limits for the 2014 elections, including $10,000 as the maximum that you can give a gubernatorial candidate,” said Heck. “I don’t think many people are sad that this is not going anywhere.” The bill (AB 225) had passed the Assembly.